The struggle for pension reform in France is entering its final phase. After a two-week ceasefire in protests due to the winter school holidays, unions called for another general strike this Tuesday they wanted. “Paralyze France”. Workers’ organizations have already shown outrage at their mass protests that the minimum retirement age was raised from 62 to 64 (42 or 43 years to receive a full pension) in January and February. To the strength of numbers, they now want to add to the pressure of “paralysis” of economic activity.
Despite the most massive protests in the neighboring country since 2010, Emmanuel Macron’s Executive made no concessions to the unions and moved forward with the unpopular measure rejected by 66% of the French, according to recent polls. Currently, it’s happening debated in the senate. Faced with this absence of social dialogue, the unitary union coalition – led by an unconventional alliance between the moderate CFDT and the combative CGT – opted for tougher methods of action, such as unrestricted strikes or actions to block the economy.
Unlimited strikes in various industries
The main innovation on this day of national protests and strikes, the sixth since January 19, is Unlimited stops on trains, subways and buses, refineries, power plants, garbage collection, ports or shipyards. The list is long by the industries they promote. reroutable gardens, although it is not known whether they will be able to keep them for a few days due to the difficulty of giving up a day’s salary during these periods of inflation. Unions and left parties organized resistance boxes to financially support the strikers. According to a survey released Monday by the Elabe institute, 56% of French support these unrestricted strikes.
Railway company SNCF predicts it will not go into circulation no commuter train and only 20% of regional and high speed. Whether it has such a high impact is unknown, but an impact on rail traffic that will continue through Tuesday. Railroad officials had already disrupted train traffic for more than two months in the winter of 2019 and 2020, when they protested Macron’s attempt to reform France’s pension system, one of Europe’s most advanced.
Regarding previous mobilizations, unions hope to raise private sector support a step further. This truckersSo far out of the protests—they relied on the conservative power of their retirement regime to let them retire at 57, but that won’t be the case in the end—he joined them. They started strikes and blockades on roads and industrial sites this Monday. There will be significant strikes at large companies as well. metallurgical industry. “In construction, we want things to be stopped and we encourage traders to lower the blinds, even if it’s for a few hours,” said Marylie Léon, number two member of the CFDT.
“Power demonstration”
“We’re going to make a show of strength,” said this moderate trade unionist. “We feel like tomorrow will be a social tsunami,” added Murielle Guilbert, general co-delegate of the struggling Solidaires. More than 260 protests They were called as a whole in the neighboring country. He predicts that he will be among the intelligence services more than a million and close to one and a half million protesters. Everything indicates that the unions will strike another blow to the table.
Although these protests Macron’s popularity waned While at its lowest levels since the start of the covid-19 pandemic, but above the 2018 yellow vest decline, and may celebrate its second term, the centrist leader does not seem willing to pull back on reform. Concessions to unions, for example, to come into effect later, are also (currently scheduled for the summer). As if it were a matter of principle.
Faced with this unwavering wave of opposition, the Executive falters in its communication tactics. Some ministers are betting that they will harshly criticize the protests. The phenomenon of “paralyzing France” means “taking the risk of disaster”. ecological, agricultural, health disaster even human,” said government spokesman Olivier Véran, in terms that sounded rather exaggerated. Others try to divert attention by announcing other measures, albeit with limited success. Monday’s announcement by Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire that supermarkets have committed to offering “a hundred” products at low prices had a greater media impact in Spain than in France.
And other leaders bet on the classic ostrich strategy. Put your head down, hoping that sooner or later the anger will subside. Although Macron is aware that he will lose a few feathers in this crisis – with a recent tour in Africa, for example – he tries to stay off the agenda by focusing on international politics. “The only thing that matters now is the approval of the reform. I think the president doesn’t care about the content (of the measure). A presidential adviser to the digital newspaper admitted that its purpose was purely political. media division.